“It’s going to be a challenging year,” said veteran coach Andy Stoglin who takes over for Kim Ezell this season. “We have a lot of young ladies who have potential, but we’re very young overall. Based on our schedule, we’ll need to grow up in a hurry.”
“The girls are working hard; they’re learning, and they’re getting better. They are doing their best, and that’s all you can ask as a coach. This is a great group of young women, and I’m having fun working with them.”
Leading the Lady Greyhounds is Kierra Adams, a 6-1 sophomore who graduated from West Memphis High School. She paced the women in scoring and rebounding a year ago and earned National Junior College Athletic Association Division II Women’s Player of the Week for games played Jan. 13-20.
The former Blue Devil averaged 25.6 points, 16.6 rebounds, 2.6 blocks and 1 assist per game during her spree against Division I opponents Dyersburg State Community College and Jackson State Community College and Division II foe North Arkansas College.
“Kierra Adams is clearly our best player, and she’s certainly a difference maker,” Stoglin said. “Our main challenge, especially early in the season, will be getting her the ball. I think her scoring will probably be down the first couple of months, but I’m confident that she can score when we give her the opportunities.”
Adams’ only fall-semester teammate is Ti’Abre Watts, who played sparingly for Holmes Community College in 2013-14. Watts is “going to help us; she’s one of our more athletic players,” Stoglin said. “She’s got one speed right now, but basketball is a game of decision making. Speed is great, but you have to make good decisions. We’re working to slow her down, so she can understand what’s happening on the court.”
Stoglin is counting on several freshmen to make the collegiate transition.
Dominique Dillard, a 5-8 forward from Forrest City, “is the most athletic girl on the team,” he said. “Like Ti’Abre, she has to learn to slow down. Dominque was so athletic as a high school player at a smaller school that she could go full speed all the time.”
“She’ll be a starter for us just because of her energy. She’s very interesting and has the potential to be a very, very good player.”
Amber Benson, 5-8 forward from Marianna who graduated from Palestine-Wheatley High School, “is probably our most improved player since practice began. She is a good student, and she listens really well. She’s getting better every day.”
Lacordia Williams, 5-5 guard from Earle, performed well in the first half of play in the Lady Greyhounds recent scrimmage game before sitting out with an injury.
“The thing I like about her is her heart and her courage,” Stoglin said. “She’s not afraid. When you have players who aren’t afraid, you have a chance to build them. They can improve because they don’t have that fear factor. College players are bigger and stronger, but she’s not afraid of anyone.”
Stoglin said Ivory Thornton, a 5-0 guard from Jonesboro, has a chance to be a good scorer for the Lady Greyhounds. “Ivory is a shooter. She is a good shooter, and she’s never seen a shot she didn’t like.”
He said Tiffany Smith, a 5-5 guard from Jacksonville, can also put the ball in the hole.
“If we can get her conditioning where it needs to be, she will be one of our better players because she has a very high basketball IQ. She can really shoot the ball, and she’s a good passer. It’s just a matter of her building up her stamina for the college game.”
Keiona McDonald, a 5-2 guard from Hamilton High School in Memphis, “is a pretty good point guard, and she has potential,” Stoglin said. “She’ll probably be our point guard to start the season, and she’s going to have to do a lot for us. We’re trying to get her ready to help us.”
Stoglin said Ashontia Harper, a 5-3 guard from Douglass High School in Memphis, will help the Lady Greyhounds.
“I think she’s going to be a good player. She can shoot the ball and run the floor really well. Like our other freshmen, she’s still making the adjustment from high school to college basketball. She’s coming on, but it’s a process.”
Sherrelle McGowan, a 5-6 guard from Forrest City, is expected to make a significant contribution as well. “She’s a kid with a lot of heart, and she can run,” Stoglin said.
MSCC is anticipating a mid-season boost from three sophomores who played quite a bit a year ago: Sasha Giles, Victoria Broady, and Elexa Guy.
“If we can get those players back in January, we’ll have a different look,” Stoglin said. “Sasha will improve the team by 30 percent herself because she’s so smart. In my opinion, she’s the best point guard that’s ever been here, man or woman, because she understands the game and makes other people better.”
“Victoria Broady is the hardest worker, and she’s a leader just by example. She brings energy to the team and helps her teammates. We could definitely use her experience.”
“Elexa Guy is one of the smartest players we have. She’s a very smart player and good shooter.”
If everything falls into place, “we’re going to be fun to watch,” Stoglin said.
Alvin Jackson is serving as associate head coach for the Lady Greyhounds.
MSCC’s women will open their regular season on Friday, Oct. 31, against Missouri Valley College (NAIA) at the Northark Classic in Harrison. The Lady Greyhounds’ first home game will be against John A. Logan College on Saturday, Nov. 11.
Season-long, reserved-seat tickets that include all Greyhound and Lady Greyhound home games are available for $50 through the MSCC Foundation (Kathy Bennett, 870-733-6866 or kbennett@midsouthcc.edu). Admission for individual games is $5 for adults and $3 for students. MSCC students and employees will be admitted free with college ID card.
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